By Bloomington Administrative Assistant GAIL CONLEY Every birder knows the thrill—that first flash of orange high in the canopy, followed by a rich, whistled song that seems to declare the season officially underway. The Baltimore Oriole isn’t just another spring migrant; for many of us, its arrival feels like a true seasonal milestone. When I first became interested in birding,…
Learn about Minnesota’s two species of nuthatches: the White-breasted and Red-breasted.
It can be difficult to identify birds this time of year due to the prevalence of immature birds in various stages of development. Can you match the immature birds with their adult counterpart?
Swallows are found around the world, on all continents, including Antarctica. Here in Minnesota, you can find three species of swallows: Barn Swallow, Tree Swallow, and Cliff Swallow. Barn Swallows are sparrow-sized, with a steely blue back, wings and tail, and tan-to-white underparts. Their throat and forehead feature rusty spots. Their tail extends beyond the wingtips and the long outer…

